INDIANAPOLIS — Veteran driver Katherine Legge has been entered by HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
As the only woman entered in this year’s 500-mile race, Legge continues a legacy that traces back to trailblazer Janet Guthrie — and uniquely, to four-time Indy 500 winner and team owner A.J. Foyt.
Nearly 50 years ago in May 1976, Guthrie fought to earn her place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). After facing skepticism and extraordinary scrutiny, Guthrie was given a pivotal opportunity when A.J. Foyt allowed her to test one of his backup cars — a moment widely credited with changing perceptions of what women could achieve in motorsport.
One year later, Guthrie became the first woman to qualify for and compete in the Indy 500, the same race in which Foyt won his record-setting fourth 500. Now, in a full-circle moment, Foyt’s team will field Legge’s entry — marking a powerful continuation of that legacy.
Legge is looking to make her fifth Indy 500 start in the No. 11 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet, after becoming just the ninth woman to qualify for the race in 2012. In 2023, she became the fastest woman to ever qualify for the race, posting an average speed of 231.07 mph.
She remains one of the most accomplished female drivers in global motorsport—including being the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America, the first to lead laps in Champ Car, and the first to lead the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
“We worked incredibly hard to be back at this year’s Indianapolis 500, and I don’t take a single moment of it for granted,” Legge said. “I’m beyond grateful to e.l.f. Cosmetics for believing that women deserve to take up space in every arena—including this one. Together, we’re proving that when you invest in a woman’s dream, there’s no limit to what she can achieve. It honestly feels like Christmas being back at the 500.
“Every time I return, I gain a deeper appreciation for what it takes—not just to compete here, but to earn the opportunity to be here in the first place. I’m reminded that I’m a small part of this enormously storied event. To the AJ Foyt Racing organization, HMD, Chevrolet, IndyCar, and my team at BRANDed Management—thank you for fighting tirelessly to make this possible.”
The British driver enters the 2026 race following a 2025 campaign in NASCAR, where she became the first woman to qualify for a NASCAR Cup Series race since Danica Patrick’s 2012 debut, and the first woman in seven years to start a Cup race.
Across 14 events spanning ARCA, the Xfinity Series (now O’Reilly), and the Cup Series, Legge recorded two top-20 finishes at the Cup level and the highest finishing position among rookie drivers in her debut race.
Foyt’s partnership with HMD Motorsports began in 2025 in the junior formula ranks, fielding multiple entries in the Indy NXT by Firestone championship. Since entering the series in 2019, HMD has established itself as a powerhouse program—earning a team championship, two driver titles, multiple Rookie of the Year honors, and advancing several drivers to the NTT IndyCar Series.
“AJ Foyt Racing has always been about giving racers a real shot,” said Larry Foyt, president of A.J. Foyt Racing. “The collaboration with our partners at HMD and e.l.f. Cosmetics has helped bring this program to the grid. Katherine has earned this opportunity, and we’re committed to giving her a strong, competitive platform.”
